What is a Certificate of Good Conduct?
A Certificate of Good Conduct is an official document issued by the relevant authority in a country confirming whether you have a criminal record during your time there. This helps the Council assess your suitability to hold a taxi driver licence. As part of the application process for a taxi driver licence, applicants must demonstrate that they are fit and proper to hold a licence. This includes providing evidence of good character during any periods spent living outside the UK.
When is a Certificate of Good Conduct required?
If you have lived outside the UK at any point within the last 10 years for a continuous period of 3 months, 93 days or more, you must provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (or equivalent document) from the relevant country or countries.
What are the requirements?
- The certificate must be issued by the appropriate authority or embassy for the country where you resided.
- It must be authentic and verifiable.
- If the document is not in English, you must provide a certified translation, arranged at your own expense.
Why is this important?
Taxi drivers are in positions of trust and responsibility. Providing a Certificate of Good Conduct ensures that the Council has a full understanding of your background, including any time spent abroad, and can make an informed decision about your application.
Important notes
- If there is any doubt about the validity, completeness, or accuracy of the certificate, your application may not proceed to the next stage.
- The responsibility to provide satisfactory evidence rests with the applicant.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council taxi licensing policy information
If an applicant has within the last 10 years lived outside the UK for a continuous period of 3 months of more, a certificate of good conduct from the relevant embassy or equivalent document, issued and authenticated by the relevant embassy will also be required. This must either be in English or translated by an approved translator at the applicant’s expense.
If an officer has any doubt as to the validity, completeness or accuracy of the document, then an applicant may not proceed to next step of process. The burden to establish validity lies with the applicant.